craft beer

Extra! Extra! Read some more about it! Another crop of breweries are set to open in Long Beach during 2018! Steady Brew Co. is one such brewery that has taken Long Beach by storm with their first two beers already available in cans. They are currently building their taproom and new brewery location, which will be located on Spring St. and Clark Ave. near the airport.

Steady Brew Co. founders Robert, Dennis, and Aaron realized that they had something good when Dennis, who is an expert home brewer, made a batch of home brewed beer as client gifts for Robert’s fabrication company, Rock Steady (which is where the brewery gets it’s name). Their beer was a huge success and they decided to take that success to the next level. The three began to search for a place to contract brew, originally planning to have their product available only in cans. Although several local breweries wanted to be able to help, Steady Brew wasn’t able to find the right combination of circumstances for contract brewing until the fall of 2017 when they got a generous offer to brew out of Groundswell Brewing in San Diego. The Steady Brew team, being Long Beach local boys, whole heartedly want to have their beer made in Long Beach for Long Beach, so they agreed to accept the offer from Groundswell to get their beer brewing, and began the process of opening their own brewery in order to bring their brewing back to Long Beach.

Both the “Grasshopper” IPA and the “Thirsty Bird” Blonde Ale are available in cans at more than twenty Long Beach liquor stores and bottles shops including Corked at both the Atlantic Ave. and Stearns St. locations, The Bottle Shoppe on 2nd St., Hops & Vines Market on 3rd St., Liquor Land on Long Beach Blvd, and Belmont Heights Liquor on East Broadway. These two beers will continue to be available in cans when their new brewery opens and their taproom will offer a few new brews including the “Pump Jack” American Ale and the “Rocking Horse” Belgian Style Tripel.

Their taproom is opening in “Time Square” along with the Baja Sonora (which will be re-opening in April), the Creative Cakery’s new location (which is currently located on 2nd street and PCH), and there is rumor of a new Ramen restaurant moving in as well, all of which you’ll be able to enjoy in the Steady Brew taproom while you enjoy a freshly brewed beer. Be on the look out for all of these spots to be open by this summer!

Visit their website (steadybrewing.com) for an up-to-date map of bottle shops in Long Beach that offer their Blonde and IPA in cans and follow their Instagram (@steadybrewing) for construction updates and tasting events such as the tasting happening on Friday (3/02/18) at Happy’s Liquor located at Norse Way and N. Lakewood Blvd.

Our 14th meetup brought us into one-year-old bottle shop & bar, Public Beer and Wine on 4th Street and Pine. This downtown Long Beach gem specializes in serving loads of local and national craft beer on tap, with a small but unique bottle selection as well. As a special treat, co-owner and brewer Bobby Fitzgerald of new Costa Mesa brewery Gunwhale Ales brought in some beers for us to try, a variety of hop-forward farmhouse ales and an IPA. It was a great turnout and we had a chance to taste some fantastic beers by Gunwhale. Special thanks to Bobby for traveling out from San Diego to share his tasty brews with us and to Gino and the crew at Public Beer & Wine for hosting our group. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our next gathering soon!

We’re starting to feel a little bit like a broken record, but here comes another new micro – or should we say nano – brewery opening up in Long Beach. Hog Canyon Brewing is about as teeny as it gets and owner Larry Chavez hopes to have the brewery up and running with the taproom open later this summer. The brewery will run on a 1-1/2 barrel system in a small industrial building at 1239 Locust, next to the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony. The name “Hog Canyon” is an homage to the location of the Work Family Guest Ranch, a 12,000-acre family-owned working ranch in Paso Robles, California where Chavez grew up. The tap room will be small, seating about 20 people at a time and Chavez plans to begin serving up some traditional styles, with an emphasis on India Pale Ales, including his 15-45 IPA and a hazy IPA.

With the addition of another new brewery, Trademark Brewing, who recently announced their fall opening just across the way at 233 E. Anaheim (next to the Packard Building), Long Beach’s Washington neighborhood is soon getting an infusion of some serious craft.

Stay tuned for more photos and updates about Hog Canyon Brewing as the build-out continues and date gets closer for opening.

Our 9th MeetUp brought us to Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in Alamitos Bay. Thanks to everyone that joined us! Thanks to Chris @ BP for giving the group a peek inside the Brewery. As I mentioned in a past blog post, the Long Beach location is the home of Ballast Point’s sour beer program. They have been releasing things here and there, but the real stuff (not that the other’s aren’t real) can take years to ferment. If you take a peek into the brewery, you’ll see barrels stacked inside, that’s where all the longer aging beers are sitting. Those likely won’t be fully ready for some time.

If you’re interested in joining us for our next adventure, CLICK HERE and join our MeetUp Group!

Successful Koreatown beer-focused gastropub, Beer Belly, is preparing to open its doors in downtown Long Beach this week. Boasting 24 tap handles, this second location for owner Jimmy Han has been just over two years in the making. Located on the south west corner of Long Beach Boulevard and 3rd Street, the nearly 3,000 square foot restaurant and bar combines both elements of modern, upscale design and unassuming simplicity.

Patrons of Beer Belly Los Angeles will notice one big difference in the new beach-side location right away: Liquor behind the bar. “For me it’s all about creativity,” says Han about the offerings at the Long Beach location, which include not only fresh, local beers but also creative cocktails. “The whole idea is crafty beer, crafty food,” says Beer Belly’s cocktail consultant, Karen Grill, a Los Angeles bartender who’s been working at Han’s Koreatown dive-bar Frank N Hanks for years. She points out that the addition of crafty libations is in line with Long Beach’s growing market for cocktails. “It’s really exciting to be a part of it,” says Grill, who will be helping bring the new location’s bar staff up to speed. Customers should expect to see the cocktail menu change with the seasons.

The decision for Jimmy Han to open a second Beer Belly in Long Beach was a no-brainer for the entrepreneur. “I love the community,” says Han. “There were other places we looked at. But the feel and vibe of Long Beach was right and I had to go with my gut.”

You can expect Beer Belly to showcase many local brews and for there to be a constant rotation of fresh new options. Twenty one of the 24 tap handles will be dedicated to craft brews with one tap devoted to fresh brewed coffee and two cocktails. With Beer Belly surrounded by neighboring brewery Beachwood BBQ and Blendery, along with nearby Timeless Pints and other new breweries soon to open their doors, we can hope to see several taps dedicated to hyper-local brews. “Its all about staying local, growing local,” says Han. “We want to showcase all of the new breweries and allow people to try new things.”

Beer Belly Chef Wes Lieberher has kept a good amount of the menu from the Koreatown location the same, with favorites like duck fat fries and the Beer Belly grilled cheese as fixtures. But there will be plenty of culinary surprises. Expect to find creative additions at the Long Beach location include LBC Crab Corn — corn off the cob with jumbo lump crab, bell peppers, chipotle aioli, mozzarella, lime and micro cilantro — and a Fried Chicken Cuban — pounded and cuban spiced breaded chicken, chili braised ham hock, apple beer mustard, house pickled jalapeños, Swiss cheese on a sesame baguette.

Beer Belly officially opens its doors to the public on Friday, November 11 at 5 p.m. Regular weekend hours will run Friday and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday until midnight. Weekday hours will be from 5 p.m. dinner to approximately midnight. Be sure to sign up for the Beer Belly Long Beach mailing list and get your first beer at the new space for just $1!

Interested in brewing your own beer but don’t have the space and/or don’t want to invest into all the equipment for it? Well, you’re in luck. When Dutch’s Brew House opens, which will be very soon, you’ll be able to create your own amazing handcrafted beer, bottle it, label it, and drink it!

How does it work? It’s easy.. Dutch’s has the recipes, ingredients and equipment. All you need to do is pick a recipe and the Brew Masters will guide you through the process of brewing it. Brewing takes some time, so be prepared to spend a few hours there. Don’t worry though, Dutch’s will also be pouring locally crafted beers in their tap room. So, you can drink (and eat) while you brew! After you’re done, your batch will ferment for X amount of days (depending what you’re brewing) at their facility. When it’s ready, you’ll return to bottle it, label it and eventually… DRINK IT! Have kids? Bring them.. They can also hand craft their own sodas!

Prices will vary depending on which recipe you choose and how much you want to brew. Perfect for special events or to enjoy at home by yourself and/or with friends.

Photos below were taken at a special event at the brewery a couple weeks ago.

Until we get a chance to go over to the new Liberation Brewing Co ourselves to check the spot out and see what their plans are for it.. Here’s their Press Release… Welcome to the neighborhood!

Liberation Coming to Long Beach

Liberation Brewing Company is a craft brewery coming to the Bixby Knolls/Cal Heights area in Long Beach, CA. Liberation Brewing Company is the brainchild of Dan Regan, former member of renowned local ska band, Reel Big Fish.

Liberation recently signed a lease to open at 3630 Atlantic Avenue, along the Bixby Knolls business corridor. Liberation Brewing will join the burgeoning beer scene in Bixby Knolls/Long Beach as a production brewery, manufacturing many different types of beer to be sold out of the on site tasting room, for take-home in growlers, and to be distributed to local bars and restaurants.

The idea for Liberation Brewing Company was born while Regan spent twenty years touring with Reel Big Fish, visiting breweries throughout the world. After leaving the band in 2013, he decided to put his love for craft beer and homebrewing to good use: “I had been getting free beer for a couple decades backstage at the Reel Big Fish concerts. For the first time in my life, I had to buy it at the store. This would not do. I dusted off the business plan and rallied the comrades to spread the gospel of our unbound libations. LIBERATION!” He partnered with then home brewer Eric McLaughlin, who has since gone on to win various medals for both his home brew and a 2014 World Beer Cup silver medal for Saison Noir, made while he brewed for Ohana Brewing Co. in Los Angeles.

As we wait for the breweries to open in Long Beach, we decided to venture to the outskirts to see what neighboring cities have to offer. For our 3rd MeetUp, we headed over the Vincent Thomas bridge to check out Brouwerij West in San Pedro! The brewery utilizes a Meura Mash Filter which is much more efficient than a conventional lauter tun. What exactly does this mean, I don’t really know either.. but all you need to know is it creates higher yields using less grains and best of all, less water. With this California drought, I guess this makes them a green brewery?

If you haven’t been yet, it’s definitely worth the trip. The space they occupy is HUGE and the selection of beer is great. Whether you want something light, fruity, hoppy, strong or sour, they (usually) have something for everyone’s tastes. Thanks to Andi for giving us the grand tour of the facility.

If you’re interested in joining us for our next adventure, CLICK HERE and join our MeetUp Group!

Last week we had the pleasure of hanging out with Levi Fried, Owner/Brewer of Long Beach Beer Lab. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak at the brewery and tasting room that is in the works. They will be located in the heart of the Wrigley area of Long Beach. This is guaranteed to be the hot spot for locals in Wrigley and all of Long Beach. Located on Willow near Magnolia, they will also be easily accessible off the 710 freeway. As we walked through the building, Levi pointed out where the fermenters, seating, bar, kitchen and mezzanine will be located. With the amazing high ceilings, It’s easy to imagine how awesome the place will look once it’s complete. Stay tuned as we will visit them regularly to update everyone on their progress. As we go, we’ll reveal more about the brewery such as what types of beer they’ll be brewing and what they’ll be serving from the kitchen.. In the meantime, enjoy the photos!

For our 2nd MeetUp, we “met up” at Timeless Pints in Lakewood. Those who showed up early were able to meet the Brewer, Chris, and also receive the Grand Tour of the facility and learn a little about the brewing process. They moved up the release of their newest seasonal beer, Smokey Chocolate and Rye Stout, from Thursday to Wednesday so the group would have a chance to have a pint or two.

The group has doubled since the first MeetUp and we’re excited to meet so many awesome people who also enjoy or are just as interested in craft beer. If you’re interested in joining us for our next adventure, CLICK HERE and join our MeetUp Group!

A huge shout out to Rae @ Timeless Pints for working with us to get the event set up and thanks to the Brewer, Chris, for sticking around longer than he normally would to meet and chat with us!

For anyone living in/around Long Beach/Lakewood and/or if you’re just passing through, definitely stop by, they’re right off the 405!